Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Date et Jour Rétrogradants
Stemming from research pushed to extremes and reflecting an uncompromising aesthetic, Patrimony models belong to a prestigious lineage of slender, elegant and timeless Vacheron Constantin watches.
PATRIMONY, THE SPIRIT OF AN ERA
The 1950s
Present-day modernity
The Patrimony spirit is firmly anchored in the effervescent mood of the 1950s. The post-war period was pervaded by a prevailing positivism that nurtured a creative and aesthetic revival. Imbued with a spirited elegance, the 1950s were years of emancipation and renewal.
The dance of time according to Vacheron Constantin
In 1955, the Maison began exploring new creative possibilities by presenting three exceptional watches to mark its bicentenary: the famous ultra-thin models equipped with the legendary 1.64 mm thin Calibre 1003 – the slimmest in the world at the time.
The origin: 1957
Born in the heart of the 1950s, this round and highly reliable watch embodies the quintessence of classicism. No superfluous ornamentation disturbs the perfectly mastered, self-sufficient design. Each detail underscores the pure lines dedicated to serving the extreme sobriety that infuses this creation with its timelessly modern aura.
BENEATH THE APPARENT SIMPLICITY LIES A WEALTH OF SOHISTICATION
CIRCULAR PERFECTION, FOCUSING ON ESSENTIALS AND HARMONIOUS PROPORTIONS
The Patrimony line epitomises stylistic purity. Reflecting a deliberately minimalist aesthetic, it asserts its personality through slender cases radiating an elegance inspired by the 1950s.
Curves – It all begins with a circle
The curved contours of the Patrimony unfold in all their understated elegance: a smooth bassine-type case, a domed dial and sapphire crystal, cambered hour-markers, a “pearl” minute circle… each element forms an exquisitely rounded silhouette
Tension – Taut lines echo the circle
Slim hour-markers, baton-type hands and elongated lugs add a modern touch. The care lavished on the slightest details is expressed in an edgy, energetic and contemporary architecture.
Slenderness – Quintessential elegance
The subtle curvature reveals a delicate profile, soberly accentuated by a crown bearing the Maltese cross. The pure design is further accentuated by the extreme slenderness of the bezel, exuding a perfect, timeless balance.
Horological excellence – Technical mastery in the service of design
From the simplest to the most complicated, calibres reveal their assets through manual finishes reflecting the finest Haute Horlogerie traditions. The fine craftsmanship embodied in Patrimony bears the signature of the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva.
For the 2nd edition of Watches&Wonders, Vacheron Constantin is enriching its flagship collection with five new models
The Manufacture rounds out the Patrimony range with variations instilled with a modern, dynamic spirit, while remaining true to the collection’s characteristic aesthetic purity and elegance.
The slate-grey dial of the 40 mm and 42.5 mm-diameter models gives them with a contemporary appearance entirely suited to daily elegance.
The small models now come on leather straps, giving them a resolutely feminine and refined appeal.
Like the other timepieces in the Patrimony collection, each of these new models is stamped with the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva.
PATRIMONY SMALL MODEL
Designed for modern women, this watch lights up the dance of the hours with a gem-set minute-circle, an authentic style element entirely in tune with the times. A diamond-studded bezel tops the dial featuring a date display, while the crown is adorned with a cabochon.
The new Patrimony small model is fitted with a Mississippiensis alligator leather strap – blue for the white gold version and taupe for the pink gold version – that is ideal for daily wear.
Admirably blending technical and aesthetic refinement, the Patrimony small model also bears the Hallmark of Geneva.
PATRIMONY RETROGRADE DAY-DATE 86020
Aesthetic purity matching mechanical complexity.
Equipped with an original and useful double complication, revealed by two retrograde-type displays, the Patrimony retrograde day-date is a perfect example of technical expertise devoted to a pure aesthetic. Or how mechanical complexity gives way to aesthetic moderation. The caseback is equipped with a sapphire crystal providing a chance to admire the self-winding 2460 R31 R movement.
The Patrimony Retrograde Day-Date bears the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva.
PATRIMONY BI-RETROGRADE DAY-DATE
STYLISTIC SIMPLICITY CONCEALS MECHANICAL COMPLEXITY
A REAL VACHERON CONSTANTIN THOROUGHBRED
Purity is a question of proportion, refinement a question of taste. Recognised as the ultimate expression of modern horological classicism, the Patrimony line powerfully affirms this refined kind of styling, which has become the Vacheron Constantin hallmark.
The line’s latest addition, the Patrimony bi-retrograde day-date, is, moreover, a very discreet expression of the essence of the Geneva manufacture: a watchmaking savoir-faire patiently acquired over 250 years of uninterrupted activity. An Haute Horlogerie timepiece with classic, aesthetic lines, the timepiece Patrimony bi-retrograde day-date is a real Vacheron Constantin thoroughbred.
SEEMING SIMPLICITY CONCEALS GENUINE MECHANICAL COMPLEXITY
In the eyes of true watch connoisseurs, the complexity of a mechanical movement is appreciated even more when it is expressed with sophistication and subtlety on the dial. The new watch Contemporary Patrimony from Vacheron Constantin does this to perfection.
Equipped with a double complication represented by two retrograde indicators on the dial, this new timepiece will thrill watch enthusiasts, for only they will be able to appreciate the underlying complexity of these original display features.
To offer more than just the hour and minute display, Vacheron Constantin’s watchmakers-engineers and designers decided to add two of the most useful complications – day and date – and display them by means of two retrograde indicators.
A resolute expression of technology at the service of aesthetics, the retrograde displays are not only highly original, but also very complex mechanically.
Returning the hands in less than 1/10 of a second over an arc close to 180º is a huge challenge for a mechanism of this size as an enormous amount of energy needs to be released instantly so they can fly back in a fraction of a second and with absolute precision. This is why a special light, flexible alloy has been used.
Strength, instantaneousness and precision: these three key elements, perfected by Vacheron Constantin’s master watchmakers, make the complexity of the two retrograde displays appear deceptively simple.
A MOVEMENT STAMPED WITH THE POINÇON DE GENÈVE, IN THE TRADITION OF THE MANUFACTURE’S NEW AUTOMATIC MOVEMENTS
At the heart of this simple, unpretentiously refined timepiece lies the 2460R31R7 calibre, an automatic mechanical movement designed, developed and produced by the Vacheron Constantin manufacture with hour, minute, date and day functions.
This double-complication calibre is one of the brand’s new 11½ lignes (25.6 mm) automatic movements, which made their appearance in 2005 during the manufacture’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The latest to date and beating at a rate of 28,800 vibrations an hour, the 2460R31R7 has a power reserve of more than 40 hours and is distinguished by the meticulous chamfering work on the Côtes de Genève-decorated bridges and the circular-graining of the plate. An innovative ceramic ball-bearing system drives its 22K gold guilloché rotor.
Meeting its twelve stringent criteria, the 2460R31R7 is stamped with the prestigious Poinçon de Genève. This very exclusive hallmark is recognised as a symbol of horological perfection as well as a indication of provenance. Over and above the stipulated technical and aesthetic constraints, it symbolises a true philosophy of horological workmanship, with no concession made either to the quality of the components or to any part of the movement. The Poinçon de Genève, therefore, is related to a guarantee of longer life for the movement.
THE TIMELESS POWER OF A DESIGN ENCAPSULATING VACHERON CONSTANTIN’S PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Date et Jour Rétrogradants
Comprising two parts and extended by soldered horns, the supremely delicate and elegant 18K pink gold case is an impressive 42.5 mm in diameter. Water-resistant to 30 metres, it features a sapphire back through which one can admire the movement’s finishing and decoration.
The display functions are clearly legible thanks to the generous proportions of the opaline silvered dial and the meticulous care brought to each detail conveys an overall impression of harmony. With its curved exterior, the dial is of complex construction. It also boasts all the other design features of the Contemporary Patrimony line: baton hands, four polished 18K gold triangular hour markers beautifully shaped at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock, as well as a minute circle of applied gold cabochons.